While all were crying, Brahma appeared before Rama. He said - Do not grieve. Sita will not be touched by fire. You will soon be united with her. You are Vishnu and Sita is Lakshmi. Please remember that.
Rama said I am born human, and I act like one.
Brahma said - Remember who you are. As the fish, you saved the vedas. As the tortoise you saved the world. As a the boar, you lifted the world on your tusks. As the half lion and half man, you killed Hiranyakashipu, who tormented the whole world. As the dwarf, you tricked Bali in giving away his land, and you became his door man. As Parashurama, you killed off the kshatiyas. Now you are born as Rama, born to kill the rakshasas.
Rama was not listening to this. He kept crying for Sita.
Brahma said - You are Vishnu and Sita is Lakshmi. Why do you keep Lakshmi in the fire?
Rama kept lamenting.
Brahma then said to Agni - Rise and give away Sita to Rama.
Agni came out with Sita in his lap. She was as she had entered the fire, Not one thread of her dress had burnt.
Agni said to Rama - I am witness to all the sins that people commit. Sita is pure.
Agni went away and and the fire went off.
To Rama, Brahma said - Take care of Sita. Do not trouble her. Go back to Ayodhya and rule the land along with your brothers. See, Dashratha has come to see you. Rama, Lakshmana and Sita bowed down to Dashratha.
Dashratha said - I was hurt by Kaikeyi's words. I died not seeing you, Rama. I have seen all that you have done till now. I have forsaken Bharata and Kaikeyi.
Rama said - Bharata is deeply sad and your anger should not be directed towards him.
To Sita, Dashratha said - You have been purified by fire. Please return back to Ayodhya with Rama.
Saying this Dashratha left.
Indra then said to Rama - Ask for a boon. You have helped us by killing Ravana and many other rakshasas.
Rama said If you want to give me something, then let all the vanaras who died in the war, come back to life. They all left their families and came with me to the forest. I am united with my wife. Why should their wives be sad?
The dead vanaras were brought back to life. Cut limbs became whole again. The dead vanaras, thinking they were in the war, started shouting out for Kumbhakarna and Indrajit. The other vanaras then told them what had happened. The vanaras then went bowed down before Rama and Sita.
Rama said to Indra - I have a question. I saw you sprinkling amrita on the battlefield. There were dead rakshasas also. How is it, they even with the touch of the divine nectar, the rakshasas did not come to life and only the vanaras were revived?
Indra said - The rakshasas were always taking the name of Rama. When they died then too they had the name of Rama on their tongue. They have all reached Vaikuntha. The vanaras were taking the names of the rakshasas all the time.
Taking leave of Rama and Sita, the Gods left.
Vibhishana then erected a wonderful palace of gold with satin and velvet and precious gems studded in the palace. Flowers were strewn everywhere, and the palace smelt heavenly. Seats were made with flowers.
Vibhishana and the vanaras stood guard and Rama and Sita entered the palace.
Rama and Sita spent the night in the palace.
Rama said I am born human, and I act like one.
Brahma said - Remember who you are. As the fish, you saved the vedas. As the tortoise you saved the world. As a the boar, you lifted the world on your tusks. As the half lion and half man, you killed Hiranyakashipu, who tormented the whole world. As the dwarf, you tricked Bali in giving away his land, and you became his door man. As Parashurama, you killed off the kshatiyas. Now you are born as Rama, born to kill the rakshasas.
Rama was not listening to this. He kept crying for Sita.
Brahma said - You are Vishnu and Sita is Lakshmi. Why do you keep Lakshmi in the fire?
Rama kept lamenting.
Brahma then said to Agni - Rise and give away Sita to Rama.
Agni came out with Sita in his lap. She was as she had entered the fire, Not one thread of her dress had burnt.
Agni said to Rama - I am witness to all the sins that people commit. Sita is pure.
Agni went away and and the fire went off.
To Rama, Brahma said - Take care of Sita. Do not trouble her. Go back to Ayodhya and rule the land along with your brothers. See, Dashratha has come to see you. Rama, Lakshmana and Sita bowed down to Dashratha.
Dashratha said - I was hurt by Kaikeyi's words. I died not seeing you, Rama. I have seen all that you have done till now. I have forsaken Bharata and Kaikeyi.
Rama said - Bharata is deeply sad and your anger should not be directed towards him.
To Sita, Dashratha said - You have been purified by fire. Please return back to Ayodhya with Rama.
Saying this Dashratha left.
Indra then said to Rama - Ask for a boon. You have helped us by killing Ravana and many other rakshasas.
Rama said If you want to give me something, then let all the vanaras who died in the war, come back to life. They all left their families and came with me to the forest. I am united with my wife. Why should their wives be sad?
The dead vanaras were brought back to life. Cut limbs became whole again. The dead vanaras, thinking they were in the war, started shouting out for Kumbhakarna and Indrajit. The other vanaras then told them what had happened. The vanaras then went bowed down before Rama and Sita.
Rama said to Indra - I have a question. I saw you sprinkling amrita on the battlefield. There were dead rakshasas also. How is it, they even with the touch of the divine nectar, the rakshasas did not come to life and only the vanaras were revived?
Indra said - The rakshasas were always taking the name of Rama. When they died then too they had the name of Rama on their tongue. They have all reached Vaikuntha. The vanaras were taking the names of the rakshasas all the time.
Taking leave of Rama and Sita, the Gods left.
Vibhishana then erected a wonderful palace of gold with satin and velvet and precious gems studded in the palace. Flowers were strewn everywhere, and the palace smelt heavenly. Seats were made with flowers.
Vibhishana and the vanaras stood guard and Rama and Sita entered the palace.
Rama and Sita spent the night in the palace.
No comments:
Post a Comment